Africa Recap: Coventry Caps Off Historic Olympic Appearance in 200 BK

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has had an illustrious career-- the 32-year-old, who just finished her last race of her 5th Olympics, has cemented herself as one of the greatest African athletes ever. Current photo via Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has had an illustrious career– the 32-year-old, who just finished her last race of her 5th Olympics, has cemented herself as one of the greatest African athletes ever.

Coventry has not been clear about retirement yet, but it looks as though this might have been her final Olympic race.

“London should have been my last Olympics if things had gone differently and I’d not dislocated my knee four months before,” Coventry said in an interview with Reuters in May. “When I made the decision to carry on swimming after London, Rio was to be the last one, and now that I’m fit and back to being in good shape and having consistency in my training, I’m thinking maybe I’ll keep going for a year afterwards.”

Coventry won’t add to her medal total after her 7th place finish tonight, but she’s already the most decorated African Olympian of all time. The 2004 and 2008 200 back gold medalist looks to have finished her Olympic career with a finals appearance in that very event, and it’s been inspiring to see her compete at such a high level for so long.

Africa was not limited to Coventry’s night, however, as Chad Le Clos of South Africa ended up in a crazy three-way tie for the 100 fly silver with Michael Phelpsand Laszlo Cseh. All three men swam a 51.14, well behind the victor, Joseph Schooling. South African Brad Tandy also appeared in the 50 free final, tying with Brazilian Bruno Fratus for sixth place in 21.79.

With Le Clos’ medal, that marks three silver medals for the African continent– two from him, and one from his countrymate Cameron van der Burgh.